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About Elephants

By Cathy Richey, the Cathy Factor

The elephant's life cycle can be categorzsed into 3 main periods – the baby, the adolescent, and the adult elephant. Like humans, each stage lasts for an extended period of time and very distinct developmental milestones characterize each level of maturity.

The baby stage lasts from birth until the elephant has been weaned off its mother’s milk completely. This can be anywhere between 5 and 10 years of age. Being weaned means that the calf no longer drinks milk from its mother, but is able to live only on solid vegetation. For the first 3 to 5 years, most elephant calves are totally dependant on their mothers for their nutrition, hygiene, migration and health.

This period is used to teach the young one all they will need to know about the herd and their environment in order to be able to survive alone. These lessons include the proper use of their trunk for feeding, drinking and bathing. The calf is born after a gestation period of almost 2 years (22 months). The first calves of the season are born about 2 months before the first rains, meaning that vegetation is soft and lush when they start to feed on it.

The adolescent stage extends from the time that the elephant has been weaned (5 to 10 years of age) until about 17 years old. It is during this stage that the elephants reach sexual maturity. This generally occurs anywhere between 8 and 13 years of age. They do not usually begin to mate at this adolescent stage. Adolescence is the time in which young elephants begin to break away from the main herd. Young bulls, in particular, tend to form smaller pods of peers, known as ‘bachelor pods’. Females are more likely to stick to the main matriarchal herd.

Adulthood starts at about 18 years of age, and the elephant has an average life expectancy of 70 years. Although sexually mature in their early teens, elephants generally only start to mate at about 20 years and stop bearing calves at about 50.

Like humans, elephant cows experience something similar to menopause. Many of the age-related illnesses also bear strong resemblances to those of humans, including cardiovascular diseases and arthritis. During adulthood, many of the bulls tend to wonder from the main herd in search of new cows with whom to mate. The female elephants will remain with the matriarchal pod, sticking together and assisting one another with nursing and caring for calves.

Elephants, like humans, enjoy clearly defined stages of their lives, each lasting for several years, even decades. Stages are characterized by structured roles and duties. These fascinating creatures continue to amaze researchers in terms of their insight, resourcefulness, and intelligence.

Elephants are one of a select few animals that have the capacity to be joyful and playful with one another, to grasp humor and appreciate it. As social creatures, elephants will frequently touch one another in affectionate, loving ways. Joy is most often displayed when they greet close friends or family members.

Herds sometimes split and larger families are separated, depending on the matriarch’s decision. This can be due to shortages of food or water. When these herds meet at watering holes or breeding spots, they joyfully greet one another. This welcoming reception includes turning around in circles, holding their heads up, flapping their ears, trumpeting, and screaming. Elephants who have formed very close bonds with people are also likely to react in this way on seeing their companion after a separation.

Another major cause for celebration is the birth of a calf. During the birth, the aunts and matriarch gather around the mother in joyful support. Celebrations begin and the cows begin to trumpet, rumble and even scream in joy and excitement.

Elephants have even been known to amuse themselves by playing games. These can either be played in a group, or with just one player. The animal will use objects from its environment and toss, twist, or interact with it in some way. Games are initiated by trumpeting loudly, indicating to those in the herd that a new session has begun.

Unlike humans and some other species, playing games is not confined to the youth; older matriarchs and bulls have been known to engage in some playful recreation. Elephants have even displayed a sense of humor in their games, often tricking and teasing their spectators.

Elephants have been known to attack humans. The reason for these attacks is usually revenge. As mentioned, elephants have a memory that rivals almost all other creatures. They have been known to remember those that have hurt them or helped them years after the fact. After extended periods of poaching and culling, elephants suffer post-traumatic stress disorder from witnessing the slaughter of their families and young ones.

Another effect that these killings had on the herds was the fact that hunters would often kill the oldest and largest elephants, those that would usually take the lead in the herd. This meant that more inexperienced teenagers were forced to look after themselves without the guidance of an experienced animal. This led to a delinquent generation.

These unpredictable attacks may be the result of abuse inflicted on working elephants, whether in zoos, circuses or industry. Out of loyalty and because of their compassionate nature, elephants will endure a fair amount of abuse before they snap. When they do give in to their frustrations, though, the incident frequently ends in the death of a human being.

Like humans, elephants experience frustration and anger for a variety of reasons. What is becoming clear is that the more exposure elephants have to humans, the lower their tolerance to these destructive beings. In fact, exposure to people has even proved to make elephant males more violent and aggressive toward one another and other species. Humans who keep wild animals from their natural habitat are greedy and have no compassion for the life and well-being of these magnificent creatures.